Modi parries questions on desire to become PM

New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today parried questions on whether he wanted to become the Prime Minister, saying he had never even dreamt of becoming the Chief Minister. "I have never dreamt of becoming someone in life. I have always tried to do something. Mostly people dream of becoming someone and die. I have never followed this. Till I had become Chief Minister, I had never dreamt of becoming so. I have never even met an astrologer to tell me that I will become a Chief Minister," Modi said in answer to a question on whether he wanted to become Prime Minister and instead said one should not dream to "be" but to "do".

"I feel if Gujarat model is good, it can be implemented in the country. I don't need to come there," he said at the India Today Conclave. He said all people want to do was learn from examples and achieve success and it was necessary for him to come to Delhi as Gujarat's model of success can be replicated at the Centre.

As part of his plans for India's resurgence, Modi said removal of corruption and good governance were his mantras.

When asked who in the BJP was stopping him from coming to Delhi, Modi gave a humorous touch to his reply. "I am sitting in Delhi. If someone had stopped me, how could I be sitting here."

The three-time Gujarat Chief Minister, who is projected as BJP's Prime Ministerial face ahead of the next general elections, said people should be happy to note that the party runs in a democratic way where decisions are taken democratically by its Parliamentary Board and "not on the basis of one family", a veiled reference to the Nehru-Gandhi family.

As part of his plans for India's resurgence, Modi said removal of corruption and good governance were his mantras that could turn the nation around and said technology can help eradicate corruption. He also said stability of tenure is the success to good governance.

Modi, in his over half-an-hour speech, hit out at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his alleged inaction and for remaining silent and launched a veiled attack on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for rolling up his sleeves to remind the people that his party was bringing in legislations to empower them. "The nation does not need Acts, it need action," he said.